Cement compositions comprising sub-micron alumina and associated methods

Abstract

Methods and compositions that comprise sub-micron alumina for accelerating setting of a cement composition. An embodiment includes a method of cementing in a subterranean formation. The method may comprise introducing a cement composition into the subterranean formation, wherein the cement composition comprises hydraulic cement, sub-micron alumina, and water. The method further may comprise allowing the cement composition to set in the subterranean formation. Another embodiment includes a cement composition that may comprise hydraulic cement, sub-micron alumina, and water.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A cement composition comprising:
 hydraulic cement, wherein the hydraulic cement is free of fly ash; 
 sub-micron particles consisting of alumina, which are a separate component from the hydraulic cement, wherein the sub-micron particles have a particle size in a range of from about 150 nm to about 950 nm, and wherein the sub-micron particles are present in an amount in a range of from 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the hydraulic cement on a dry basis; 
 latex, wherein the latex comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of an ethylene-propylene rubber, a styrene-butadiene rubber, a nitrile rubber, a nitrile butadiene rubber, a butyl rubber, a neoprene rubber, a polybutadiene rubber, an acrylonitrile-styrene-butadiene rubber, a polyisoprene rubber, an AMPS-styrene-butadiene rubber, and any combination thereof; and 
 water, in an amount in the range of about 33% to about 200% by weight of the hydraulic cement. 
 
     
     
       2. The cement composition of  claim 1  wherein the hydraulic cement comprises at least one hydraulic cement selected from the group consisting of a Portland cement, a pozzolana cement, a gypsum cement, a high-alumina-content cement, a slag cement, a silica/lime cement, and any combination thereof 
     
     
       3. The cement composition of  claim 1  further comprising belite in an amount in a range of from 0.1% to about 50% by weight of calcium silicates in the cement composition. 
     
     
       4. The cement composition of  claim 1  further comprising a colloidal alumina dispersion comprising the sub-micron particles suspended in a base fluid. 
     
     
       5. The cement composition of  claim 1  wherein the sub-micron particles have a particle size in a range of from about 400 nm to about 500 nm. 
     
     
       6. The cement composition of  claim 1  wherein the sub-micron particles are present in the cement composition in an amount in a range of from about 0.5% to about 5% by weight of the hydraulic cement on a dry basis. 
     
     
       7. The cement composition of  claim 1  further comprising least one additive selected from the group consisting of a latex stabilizer, a strength-retrogression additive, a set accelerator, a set retarder, a weighting agent, a lightweight additive, a gas-generating additive, a mechanical property enhancing additive, a lost-circulation material, a filtration-control additive, a fluid loss control additive, a dispersant, a defoaming agent, a foaming agent, a thixotropic additive, nano-particles, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
       8. The cement composition of  claim 1  further comprising at least one additive selected from the group consisting of a gas, crystalline silica, amorphous silica, fumed silica, a salt, a fiber, a hydratable clay, calcined shale, vitrified shale, a microsphere, slag, diatomaceous earth, metakaolin, rice husk ash, a natural pozzolan, zeolite, cement kiln dust, lime, an elastomer, a resin, nano-silica, nano-clay, nano-silica, nano-zinc oxide, nano-boron, nano-iron oxide, nano-zirconium oxide, nano-magnesium oxide, nano-barite, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
       9. The cement composition of  claim 1 , wherein the cement composition has a density of about 13 ppg to about 20 ppg. 
     
     
       10. A cement composition comprising:
 hydraulic cement selected from the group consisting of a Portland cement, a pozzolana cement, a gypsum cement, a high-alumina-content cement, a slag cement, a silica/lime cement, and any combination thereof; and wherein the hydraulic cement is free of fly ash; 
 sub-micron particles consisting of alumina and having a particle size in a range of about 150 nm to about 950 nm, wherein the sub-micron alumina particles are present in an amount in a range of from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the hydraulic cement on a dry basis; and wherein the sub-micron alumina particles are a separate component from the hydraulic cement; 
 latex, wherein the latex comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of an ethylene-propylene rubber, a styrene-butadiene rubber, a nitrile rubber, a nitrile butadiene rubber, a butyl rubber, a neoprene rubber, a polybutadiene rubber, an acrylonitrile-styrene-butadiene rubber, a polyisoprene rubber, an AMPS-styrene-butadiene rubber, and any combination thereof; and 
 water, in an amount in the range of about 35% to about 70% by weight of the hydraulic cement. 
 
     
     
       11. The cement composition of  claim 10  further comprising belite in an amount in a range of from 0.1% to about 50% by weight of calcium silicates in the cement composition. 
     
     
       12. The cement composition of  claim 10  further comprising a  1  colloidal alumina dispersion comprising the sub-micron particles suspended in a base fluid. 
     
     
       13. The cement composition of  claim 10  wherein the sub-micron particles have a particle size in a range of from about 400 nm to about 500 nm. 
     
     
       14. The cement composition of  claim 10  wherein the sub-micron particles are present in the cement composition in an amount in a range of from about 0.5% to about 5% by weight of the hydraulic cement on a dry basis. 
     
     
       15. The cement composition of  claim 10  further comprising least one additive selected from the group consisting of a latex stabilizer, a strength-retrogression additive, a set accelerator, a set retarder, a weighting agent, a lightweight additive, a gas-generating additive, a mechanical property enhancing additive, a lost-circulation material, a filtration-control additive, a fluid loss control additive, a dispersant, a defoaming agent, a foaming agent, a thixotropic additive, nano-particles, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
       16. The cement composition of  claim 10  further comprising at least one additive selected from the group consisting of a gas, crystalline silica, amorphous silica, fumed silica, a salt, a fiber, a hydratable clay, calcined shale, vitrified shale, a microsphere, slag, diatomaceous earth, metakaolin, rice husk ash, a natural pozzolan, zeolite, cement kiln dust, lime, an elastomer, a resin, nano-silica, nano-clay, nano-silica, nano-zinc oxide, nano-boron, nano-iron oxide, nano-zirconium oxide, nano-magnesium oxide, nano-barite, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
       17. The cement composition of  claim 10 , wherein the cement composition has a density of about 13 ppg to about 20 ppg. 
     
     
       18. A cement composition comprising:
 hydraulic cement, wherein the hydraulic cement is free of fly ash; 
 sub-micron particles consisting of alumina, which are a separate component from the hydraulic cement, wherein the sub-micron particles have a particle size in a range of from about 150 nm to about 950 nm, and wherein the sub-micron particles are present in an amount in a range of from 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the hydraulic cement on a dry basis; 
 latex in an amount of about 2% to about 45% by weight of the cement on a dry basis; wherein the latex comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of an ethylene-propylene rubber, a styrene-butadiene rubber, a nitrile rubber, a nitrile butadiene rubber, a butyl rubber, a neoprene rubber, a polybutadiene rubber, an acrylonitrile-styrene-butadiene rubber, a polyisoprene rubber, an AMPS-styrene-butadiene rubber, and any combination thereof; and 
 water, in an amount in the range of about 33% to about 200% by weight of the hydraulic cement. 
 
     
     
       19. The cement composition of  claim 18  wherein the hydraulic cement comprises at least one hydraulic cement selected from the group consisting of a Portland cement, a pozzolana cement, a gypsum cement, a high-alumina-content cement, a slag cement, a silica/lime cement, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
       20. The cement composition of  claim 18  further comprising belite in an amount in a range of from 0.1% to about 50% by weight of calcium silicates in the cement composition. 
     
     
       21. The cement composition of  claim 18  further comprising a colloidal alumina dispersion comprising the sub-micron particles suspended in a base fluid. 
     
     
       22. The cement composition of  claim 18  wherein the sub-microns particles have a particle size in a range of from about 400 nm to about 500 nm. 
     
     
       23. The cement composition of  claim 18  wherein the sub-micron particles are present in the cement composition in an amount in a range of from about 1% to about 5% by weight of the hydraulic cement on a dry basis. 
     
     
       24. The cement composition of  claim 18  wherein the latex comprises a styrene-butadiene rubber. 
     
     
       25. The cement composition of  claim 18  further comprising least one additive selected from the group consisting of a latex stabilizer, a strength-retrogression additive, a set accelerator, a set retarder, a weighting agent, a lightweight additive, a gas-generating additive, a mechanical property enhancing additive, a lost-circulation material, a filtration-control additive, a fluid loss control additive, a dispersant, a defoaming agent, a foaming agent, a thixotropic additive, nano-particles, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
       26. The cement composition of  claim 18  further comprising at least one additive selected from the group consisting of a gas, crystalline silica, amorphous silica, fumed silica, a salt, a fiber, a hydratable clay, calcined shale, vitrified shale, a microsphere, slag, diatomaceous earth, metakaolin, rice husk ash, a natural pozzolan, zeolite, cement kiln dust, lime, an elastomer, a resin, nano-silica, nano-clay, nano-silica, nano-zinc oxide, nano-boron, nano-iron oxide, nano-zirconium oxide, nano-magnesium oxide, nano-barite, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
       27. The cement composition of  claim 18 , wherein the cement composition has a density of about 13 ppg to about 20 ppg.